Farm School at the Permaculture Skills Center
Farm School supports you to cultivate the skills and relationships you need to begin and sustain a successful farm enterprise. Created for the urban, suburban and rural farmer, Farm School is committed to helping farmers and farm-families establish productive thriving businesses in their region's food economy; we grow farms that feed their local communities while regenerating their local ecosystems. Farm School's curriculum addresses some of the biggest barriers to entering a career in farming - knowledge, access to land, markets, capital and the on-going support of a mentor and learning community.
Farm School begins with a 13-week intensive training, followed by an integrated 6-month mentorship. You will learn how to design, build and support a holistic, regenerative farm business that will increase the life-supporting capacity of the land and your revenue. Our curriculum covers water systems, soil science, crop planning, agroforestry, energy systems and harvesting techniques. Each week incorporates a full day of business planning and coaching, evening lectures from successful farmers in the region, and detailed farm tours. Following the intensive, you will be paired with a supportive mentor, and the next 6 months will be a time of learning-by-doing to build upon your farm enterprise plan.
This dynamic program is one-of-a-kind. At Farm School you will learn and receive support from the region's leading-edge food producers and entrepreneurs to formulate a business plan that can be embedded strategically into your particular regional food economy. Farm School is an active step towards becoming a leader in ecological stewardship while developing a deep understanding of land systems, agricultural policy and pathways for social influence.